China expert Willy Lam says it's 'disappointing' that President Xi Jinping failed to unveil any concrete measures to cut back on state control of China's economy, even as he promised to continue with Deng Xiaoping's reforms. In a speech at the Great Hall of the People, President Xi marked the fortieth anniversary of the opening up of the country's economy by warning that no one can "dictate" China's economic development path. He also made clear that Beijing will not deviate from its one-party system. Professor Lam, of Chinese University, told Annemarie Evans that his speech contained no surprises:

The chief executive of the local branch of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, Ricky Fung, says Hong Kong is quickly catching up with the rest of the world in embracing streaming services – putting pressure on retailers that still depend on CD sales. He was speaking after the operator of HMV appointed a provisional liquidator to wind up its seven outlets in Hong Kong after 25 years of operations. It described the move as an inevitable decision under the "crushing force of the wheel of history". Fung told Jim Gould that it's clear that the future of music is digital: